Sheriff candidates put forth messages

Both candidates for Lubbock County sheriff are promising big changes next year, but have different perspectives on how to go about them.

Chief Deputy David Gutierrez, running as an independent, is touting his 22 years of experience with the sheriff's office during which time he has worked his way up from the lowest rungs and has held administrative positions for the past 10 years.

As the hand-picked successor for the late Sheriff D.L. "Sonny" Keesee, Gutierrez stresses his experience in managing a $10 million budget and administering a department with more than 250 employees.

Republican candidate Dusty Dowgar also stresses his law enforcement experience - and the fact that most of it comes from outside the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office. Dowgar was selected by the Lubbock County Republican Executive Committee over Gutierrez largely because of his outsider status.

Mikel Ward, a member of the executive committee who backed Dowgar's nomination, said she didn't want somebody from within the current administration.

Dowgar works as the chief investigator for the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney's Office. Prior to that, he worked as a deputy for sheriff's departments in Yoakum, Walker and Hockley counties and for the Sundown Police Department.

"I am an outsider looking in," Dowgar said. "I and the rest of the public can see the problems that have arisen over the years."

The problems Dowgar sees are a lack of training and discipline among jail staffers, which, he said, has led to expensive lawsuits being filed against the county.

"These are problems that should have been addressed long ago, but never have been," he said. "My opponent does not have enough gall to take responsibility on himself and correct these problems."

Gutierrez said he plans to address many problems in the department when he is elected sheriff but has not had the authority to make those changes in his previous positions.

He promises to "maximize efficiency" in the departments and eliminate unnecessary duplication in services. However, he said the present situation where the city runs its own temporary holding facility is unavoidable for the near future.

Dowgar has said he opposes the two-jail system between the city and the county and as sheriff would insist it be reabsorbed by the county. Dowgar maintains that the current system results in city taxpayers paying double for the same service.

"Why should city taxpayers be forced to pay extra for a duplication of services?" he asked.

Dowgar also criticizes Gutierrez for what he says is a lack of checks and balances that resulted in the embezzlement of $19,000 from the jail. Two deputies were charged in the case.

"It is funny to me that he was the jail administrator and didn't know this was going on," Dowgar said. "It shows his willingness to work on things other than the problem."

Gutierrez said he has not been the jail administrator since 1994. He also notes that the embezzlement was discovered as a result of an internal audit and investigation and has been turned over to the district attorney's office.

"We have annual internal and external audits of every account in every department," he said. "I will ensure that another audit is performed on all accounts this fall."

Dowgar said he would hold members of his staff accountable for missing money.

"The Sheriff's Department is accountable for items such as vehicles, office equipment and supplies, criminal evidence and prisoners' personal belongings," he said. "To achieve total department integrity, I will complete an exhaustive audit of all Sheriff's Department inventories."

During the past few weeks, the sheriff's race has become nastier with both sides being trashed in anonymous mailings alleging past improprieties. Most of the accusations have proven to be without merit; however, one against Dowgar struck a nerve after the discovery of a Texas Rangers report appeared to back it up.

When the report was obtained by The Avalanche-Journal, Dowgar admitted to taking a rifle from the evidence room in the Yoakum County Sheriff's Department 14 years ago while working there as a deputy. But he insists that he was only curious about the gun and did not steal it. Furthermore, he said that the incident was not the reason for his subsequent resignation even though the Rangers report and his former boss, Yoakum County Sheriff Jimmie Rice, say it was.

Dowgar said he has admitted to making a mistake and wants the incident put behind him. "What happened 14 years ago is in the past," he said.

But Dowgar said he lwants his opponent's past to be examined as well.

"Everybody has skeletons in their closet and it's time my opponent had his closet looked into," he said. "I've run a low-key campaign and have not been slinging mud as my opponent has been. But now it is time for me to step up to the plate and go to bat."

Gutierrez said he refuses to lower himself to the level of attacking his opponent over personal matters. He said he wants his campaign to promote his experience.